A carnival challenging the stigma behind mental health is being held in Hull this weekend.

Mad Pride Hull, a group of Hull residents, has organised a carnival to encourage people to talk about mental health as part of the UK City of Culture year.

Lilly Williams, a member of the group, said: “Mental distress is a massive problem in Hull. Our society makes so many of us sick and lonely.

"We believe that it’s our world that’s mad and we want to change it, one step at a time.”

Made Pride Hull wants to challenge what 'normal' is

The carnival will start at 3pm at the Old Stepney Station in Beverley Road, and will reach Pearson Park for 4pm, where there will be a mix of live music, puppetry, performances, interactive art, exhibitions, spoken word and food from Timebank until 7pm.

Sam Donaldson, another group member, said: “I’m not ashamed of my struggles with highs and lows of mood.

"Our different struggles are part of being human and they can make us more compassionate and wise. The support I received from others was vital for me.

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"When we don't talk about our struggles they become harder and we can’t help one another. We need to talk more.”

In the week running up to the carnival, Mad Pride Hull are also putting on performances, workshops and film-showings throughout the week.

On Monday at 7pm, The Naked Dietitian will be performing her latest show, Raising the Roof, at Adelphi, after a successful tour to the Edinburgh Fringe.

The group will be holding workshops throughout this week

There will also be two showings of a new documentary film, called Crazywise, at Artlink on Thursday and Friday at 7pm both evenings.

Crazywise follows the journeys of two young Americans diagnosed with mental illness and explores how psychological crises can be an opportunity for growth and transformation rather than being a disease with no cure.